2008 Woodie Awards
Pro day prospects await results
Former Saluki players try to impress NFL scouts
By Amber Fijolek
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An obstacle-course like day filled with tests of strength and athletic ability last week may lead to a promising future for some of the SIU football team's graduating seniors.
The open call drew 8 seniors at last Monday's Pro Day. Throughout the day at various venues, consisting of McAndrew Stadium, the Troutt-Whittmann Center, and the Student Rec Center, the young men performed drills for at least 8 scouts from NFL teams such as the St. Louis Rams, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Green Bay Packers.
Currently, 2 NFL teams have former Salukis on their rosters. Brandon Jacobs, a running back for the New York Giants, drafted in 2004, and Bart Scott, line backer for the Baltimore Ravens, have just been added to their teams' starting lineups, with Scott having just signed a multi-million dollar contract.
As their own college careers end, SIU fans might get a chance to see players like All-American running back Arkee Whitlock and tight end Braden Jones go pro as well. Strength trainers at the Troutt-Whittmann training facility commented on the excitement of the annual Pro Day.
"Arkee has a good chance of getting drafted now," said Chad Pearson, a graduate assistant, "and Braden might, too. He has the best results as a tight end in the country of all of the NCAA. They're our two biggest prospects," said Pearson.
On a day like Pro Day, both scouts and agents appear to keep an eye on potential prospects for the NFL draft. Whitlock, now in private training in New Jersey, and Jones, in private training with his former coach at Northwestern, have both busy keeping up their game after having participated in Pro Day.
Until then, all must wait until draft results are released April 28th. According to Pearson, there are also chances for players to to be signed to teams overseas or in arena leagues if the NFL falls through.
Director of Media Services Tom Weber expects that Whitlock will not be present at the draft announcement in April because they usually only invite those expected to make the first rounds. "He might make fourth round," said Weber. "Only about half of the guys drafted, though, will make it on the team's roster."
Salukis in the NFL Draft
Year Player Round Team
1955 Bob Ems 28 Chicago Cardinals
1956 Wayne Williams 30 New York Giants
1959 Carver Shannon 19 Los Angeles Rams
1961 Houston Antwine 8 Houston
1962 Amos Bullocks 20 Dallas Cowboys
1963 Sam Silas 6 Boston Patriots
1966 Jim Battle 6 Cleveland Browns
1969 Al Jenkins 3 Cleveland Browns
1969 Carl Mauck 13 Baltimore Colts
1972 Lionel Antoine 1 Chicago Bears
1973 Bill Story 9 Kansas City Chiefs
1980 Kevin House 2 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1983 John Harper 4 Atlanta Falcons
1984 Terry Taylor 1 Seattle Seahawks
1984• Rick Johnson 2 Los Angeles Rams
1986 Tom Baugh 4 Kansas City Chiefs
1987 Adrian White 2 New York Giants
1987 Ralph Van Dyke 4 Atlanta Falcons
1992 Tom Roth 12 Los Angeles Raiders
1997 Damon Jones 5 Jacksonville Jaguars
2004 Brandon Jacobs 4 New York Giants
Notes: Lionel Antoine was the 3rd pick overall in the 1972
NFL Draft, and Terry Taylor was the 22nd pick overall in
1984. Adrian White played only one season at SIU (1982).
•Johnson was selected in the NFL's Supplemental Draft.
Salukis on Current NFL Rosters
As of July, 2006
Brandon Jacobs, RB New York Giants
Brent Little, WR Cleveland Browns
Bart Scott, LB Baltimore Ravens
Sources:
Chad Pearson, Graduate Assistant Strength Coach, (618)453-5482
Joe Schaffer, Graduate Assistant Strength Coach, (618)453-5482
Tom Weber, Director of Media Services, (6218)453-7235, HYPERLINK "mailto:tomweber@siu.edu" tomweber@siu.edu
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
AJ
posted 4/30/07 @ 10:32 PM CST
Name the eight senior prospect players early in the story or be sure to fact box them -- they are current. Use the old news of paragraph three later and keep the new stuff on top. (Continued…)
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